# Cisco Appdynamics Setup

> Use when the user asks about AppDynamics setup, Splunk_TA_AppDynamics, controller connections, analytics connections, or AppDynamics dashboards in Splunk. Automate Cisco Splunk Add-on for AppDynamics (Splunk_TA_AppDynamics) setup and configuration. Creates the AppDynamics index, sets add-on defaults, configures controller and optional analytics connections, enables common input groups, and validates the deployment.

- Skill: `chambear2809/cisco-appdynamics-setup` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 10 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add chambear2809/cisco-appdynamics-setup`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/chambear2809/cisco-appdynamics-setup/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Data & Analytics
- Author: chambear2809 (https://skillmd.com/u/chambear2809)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/chambear2809/cisco-appdynamics-setup

---


# Cisco AppDynamics Setup Automation

## Prerequisites

| Tool or access | Purpose | Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Bash and Python 3 | Run bundled setup and validation helpers | `bash --version && python3 --version` |
| Required product/platform access | Inspect or configure the selected target | Complete the documented preflight |
| Credential files for live modes | Keep secrets out of chat | Verify paths only |

## Workflow Overview

```text
┌───────────┐   ┌───────────────┐   ┌───────────────┐   ┌─────────────────┐
│ Preflight │ → │ Render/review │ → │ Apply/handoff │ → │ Validate evidence │
└───────────┘   └───────────────┘   └───────────────┘   └─────────────────┘
```

## When to Activate

- AppDynamics setup, Splunk_TA_AppDynamics, controller connections, analytics connections, or AppDynamics dashboards
  in Splunk.
- Preview and review the cisco appdynamics setup workflow before any live apply phase.
- Diagnose failed prerequisites, generated assets, configuration, or validation evidence.

## Scope

Follow the documented read-only or render-first path whenever it is available.
This skill does not imply permission to mutate live systems. Require explicit
apply flags, protected credentials, and operator review for state changes.

## Examples

Inspect the supported setup modes before selecting one:

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/setup.sh --help
```

Expected output: usage, supported modes, and required arguments are displayed
without changing the target environment.

Inspect validation modes before running completion checks:

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/validate.sh --help
```

Expected output: offline, live, and completion options are displayed when the
skill supports them; help exits without mutation.

## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Preflight fails | A required tool or access path is missing | Resolve it before rendering or applying |
| Rendered assets are incomplete | Required non-secret inputs are absent | Complete intake and render again |
| Apply is blocked | Review, credentials, or explicit acceptance is missing | Use the documented handoff |
| Validation is incomplete | Live evidence is unavailable | Record the gap and keep completion open |

## TA Completion Gate

For every TA/add-on or dashboard companion run, satisfy the shared
[TA completion gate](../shared/ta_completion_gate.md): configure and enable the
data ingest path owned by this skill or its required companion, validate events
or metrics in the target indexes/source types, and verify any
pre-built/package-shipped dashboards are visible, macro-aligned, and returning
data. If the package ships no dashboards, record that evidence explicitly and
hand off dashboard use to the consuming app, ES/ITSI/ARI content, or readiness
doctor.

Automates the **Cisco Splunk Add-on for AppDynamics**
(`Splunk_TA_AppDynamics`).

This package is a **combined add-on plus built-in dashboards** bundle. There is
no separate companion Splunk app in the local package cache for this workflow.

## Package Model

**Pull from Splunkbase first (latest version), then fall back to local or custom packages.**

Use `splunk-app-install` with `--source splunkbase --app-id 3471` to get the
latest release. Latest verified Splunkbase release is `3.2.1` as of
2026-05-16. If Splunkbase is unavailable, fall back to the local archive in
`splunk-ta/` (`cisco-splunk-add-on-for-appdynamics_*.tar.gz`) or a custom URL.
This applies to both Splunk Cloud (ACS) and Splunk Enterprise.

After installation, use this skill to configure the AppDynamics index, add-on
settings, controller connections, optional analytics connections, inputs, and
validation over search-tier REST. Any `splunk-ta/_unpacked/` tree is
review-only.

## Agent Behavior — Credentials

**The agent must NEVER ask for passwords, API client secrets, or analytics secrets in chat.**

Splunk credentials are read automatically from the project-root `credentials`
file (falls back to `~/.splunk/credentials`). If neither exists, guide the user
to create it:

```bash
bash skills/shared/scripts/setup_credentials.sh
```

For the AppDynamics controller client secret, instruct the user to write it to a
temporary file:

```bash
# User creates the file themselves (agent never sees the secret)
bash skills/shared/scripts/write_secret_file.sh /tmp/appd_client_secret
```

For the optional AppDynamics analytics secret:

```bash
# User creates the file themselves (agent never sees the secret)
bash skills/shared/scripts/write_secret_file.sh /tmp/appd_analytics_secret
```

Then the agent passes `--client-secret-file` or `--analytics-secret-file` to
the configure scripts. After configuration completes, delete the temp files.

The agent may freely ask for non-secret values: connection names, controller
URLs, analytics endpoint choice, global account names, index names, and input
types.

For prerequisite collection, use `skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/template.example`
as the intake worksheet. Copy it to `template.local`, fill in non-secret values
there, and keep the completed file local only.

## Environment

Setup and validation use the Splunk search-tier REST API and can run from any
host with network access to the Splunk management port (`8089`). In Splunk
Cloud, app installation, index creation, and restarts are handled through ACS
instead of the search-tier REST endpoints.

| Item | Value |
|------|-------|
| Search-tier API | `SPLUNK_SEARCH_API_URI` env var (legacy alias: `SPLUNK_URI`) |
| Cloud stack | `SPLUNK_CLOUD_STACK` for Cloud installs (`SPLUNK_PLATFORM` is only an override for hybrid runs) |
| App name | `Splunk_TA_AppDynamics` |
| Default index | `appdynamics` |
| Credentials | Project-root `credentials` file (falls back to `~/.splunk/credentials`) |
| Skill scripts | `skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/` (relative to repo root) |

### Remote Splunk Connection

To run against a remote Splunk instance:

```bash
export SPLUNK_SEARCH_API_URI="https://splunk-host:8089"
```

## Splunk Authentication

Scripts read Splunk credentials from the project-root `credentials` file
(falls back to `~/.splunk/credentials`) automatically.

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/validate.sh
```

## Setup Workflow

### Step 1: Create the Index and Set Add-on Defaults

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/setup.sh
```

Creates the `appdynamics` index, sets the add-on default output index in
`splunk_ta_appdynamics_settings.conf`, and ensures the app is visible in
Splunk Web.

Partial runs:

- `--indexes-only`
- `--settings-only`

### Step 2: Configure the Controller Connection

Before running, the agent must **ask the user** for non-secret values:

- Connection name
- Controller URL
- AppDynamics client name
- Whether to enable common inputs immediately

Create or update the controller connection via the add-on REST handler:

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/configure_account.sh \
  --name "PROD" \
  --controller-url "https://example.saas.appdynamics.com" \
  --client-name "splunk-integration" \
  --client-secret-file /tmp/appd_client_secret \
  --create-inputs recommended
```

REST endpoint used:

- `/servicesNS/nobody/Splunk_TA_AppDynamics/Splunk_TA_AppDynamics_account`

### Step 3: Configure the Optional Analytics Connection

Only needed if the user wants **Analytics Search** inputs.

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/configure_analytics.sh \
  --name "PROD_ANALYTICS" \
  --global-account-name "customer1_abcdef" \
  --analytics-secret-file /tmp/appd_analytics_secret
```

Optional follow-on: create an analytics input at the same time with `--query`.

REST endpoint used:

- `/servicesNS/nobody/Splunk_TA_AppDynamics/Splunk_TA_AppDynamics_analytics_account`

### Step 4: Enable Inputs

Enable common controller-backed inputs:

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/setup.sh --enable-inputs \
  --account "PROD" --index "appdynamics" --input-type recommended
```

Input groups:

| Input Type | Inputs Enabled | Notes |
|------------|----------------|-------|
| `recommended` | status, events, security, audit, licenses | Best default starting point |
| `all` | recommended + database + hardware + snapshots | Excludes analytics and custom |
| `status` | high-level status | Uses all built-in status categories |
| `database` | database metrics | Uses vendor defaults |
| `hardware` | hardware metrics | Uses vendor defaults |
| `snapshots` | application snapshots | Uses vendor defaults |
| `security` | Secure Application data | Uses vendor defaults |
| `events` | events data | Uses the package default event filter set |
| `audit` | controller audit logs | Controller connection only |
| `licenses` | controller license usage | Controller connection only |
| `analytics` | analytics search | Requires `--analytics-account` and `--query` |
| `custom` | custom metrics | Requires `--metric-paths` |

Analytics example:

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/setup.sh --enable-inputs \
  --index appdynamics \
  --input-type analytics \
  --analytics-account "PROD_ANALYTICS" \
  --query "SELECT * FROM transactions LIMIT 100"
```

Custom metrics example:

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/setup.sh --enable-inputs \
  --account "PROD" \
  --index appdynamics \
  --input-type custom \
  --metric-paths "Overall Application Performance|Calls per Minute"
```

### Step 5: Dashboards

The package already includes dashboards and forms. They appear in Splunk Web
automatically after installation — no import or manual activation is needed.

To access them: **Apps → Splunk Add-on for AppDynamics**

Built-in dashboards:

- `ingestion_statistics`
- `status`
- `events`
- `license_usage`
- `audit_log`
- `troubleshooting`

There is **no macro rewrite step** for this add-on. Dashboard forms use an
inline `Index` text token that defaults to `appdynamics`. If the user chooses a
different index, they must enter that index in the dashboard form when viewing
the built-in dashboards.

On **Splunk Cloud**, dashboards are available immediately after ACS installs
the app. No additional activation step is required.

### Step 6: Validate

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/validate.sh --completion
```

Checks: app installation, visibility, index, settings, controller connections,
analytics connections, inputs, and data flow.

## Sourcetypes

Primary sourcetypes:

- `appdynamics_status`
- `appdynamics_databases`
- `appdynamics_hardware`
- `appdynamics_snapshots`
- `appdynamics_analytics`
- `appdynamics_security`
- `appdynamics_events`
- `appdynamics_audit`
- `appdynamics_licenses`

Custom metrics default to the user-facing source type `appdynamics_custom_data`.

See [reference.md](reference.md) for the input catalog, settings, dashboards,
and sourcetype details.

## Optional ITSI Path

If the user wants the **Content Pack for Splunk AppDynamics** or ITSI/ITE Work
service modeling, treat that as a follow-on workflow. This skill only automates
the `Splunk_TA_AppDynamics` package and its built-in dashboards.

## MCP Server Integration

Load custom tools into the MCP Server:

```bash
bash skills/cisco-appdynamics-setup/scripts/load_mcp_tools.sh
```

## Key Learnings / Known Issues

1. **Single package**: The local package is `Splunk_TA_AppDynamics` and already
   includes built-in dashboards.
2. **Default index matters**: The shipped dashboards default to `appdynamics`.
   Using that index avoids manual dashboard edits.
3. **Two connection types**: Controller and Analytics connections are separate
   REST handlers and should be configured separately.
4. **No macro management**: Unlike some Cisco app skills, there is no dashboard
   macro to rewrite for index selection.
5. **Advanced inputs**: Analytics Search and Custom Metrics need additional
   query/path parameters and are not part of the `recommended` bundle.
6. **Restart behavior differs by platform**: Enterprise may need a restart after
   index creation. Splunk Cloud uses ACS restart checks.
7. **Visibility after install**: The app can be present but hidden in Splunk
   Web after install. `setup.sh` forces `visible=true`.

## Additional Resources

- [reference.md](reference.md) — Connection fields, input catalog, dashboards, sourcetypes
- [mcp_tools.json](mcp_tools.json) — MCP tool definitions

## Validation Modes

Run `scripts/validate.sh` for a backward-compatible diagnostic report. Run
`scripts/validate.sh --completion` (alias `--strict`) to require a configured
connection, enabled input, event flow, and visible built-in dashboard views;
missing completion evidence exits nonzero.